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Best Answer: The three hares motif is a design used in ancient art in areas ranging from the Far East to England. It typically appears in sacred art and architecture, though its meaning and origin are unknown. The three hares motif was used by Christian, Buddhist, Islamic, and Jewish cultures. The basic design consists of three hares with conjoined ears arranged in a circle. Each hare appears to have two ears, but shares one with the adjacent hare, so that only three ears appear in the design. The ears form a central triangle with the hares in profile, often in a running or leaping pose. One of the many mysteries of the Silk Road is how the image of three hares (and sometimes rabbits) running in a circle and sharing ears, appears in Buddhist, Christian and Islamic contexts. What possible links can there be between Buddhist cave paintings in Dunhuang, China and Christian churches in the county of Devon in the UK, separated by 3000 miles, 500 years, and different cultures and religions? Yet an intriguing design of three rabbits chasing each other in a circle sharing three ears between them is found – in near identical form – in both places. The hare is also associated with the Moon in mythology. The symbol of the 'triangle' is also so evident in this project. The erratic running of the hare and the erratic rising of the moon may have a connection one with the other. http://historyhuntersinternational.org/2... (photos of the image in different locations) http://www.widecombe-in-the-moor.com/his...

The earliest occurrences appear to be in cave temples in China, which have been dated to the Sui dynasty (6th to 7th centuries). The iconography spread along the Silk Road, and was a symbol associated with Buddhism. The hares have been said to be "A hieroglyph of 'to be'." Guan Youhui, a retired researcher from the Dunhuang Academy believes the three rabbits image-—"like many images in Chinese folk art that carry auspicious symbolism—represent peace and tranquility." The hares have appeared in a Lotus motif. This symbol appears in such a wide variety of places and on many different types of creations and materials. Beautiful pottery in Egypt 1281AD, a coin from Iran minted by the Mongols, a tray from Iran and much more. A medallion from 11th century about 1000AD possibly from the Hindu culture. Another 13th or early 14th century Reliquary was from Iran from Mongol rule, and is preserved in the treasury of Cathedral of Trier Germany. On its base, the casket reveals Islamic iconography, and originally featured two images of the three hares.

The motif of the Three Hares is used in a number of medieval European churches, particularly in France (e.g., in the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyons) and Germany. It occurs with the greatest frequency in the churches of the West Country of England. The motif appears in architectural wood carving, stone carving, window tracery and stained glass. In South Western England there are nearly thirty recorded examples of the Three Hares appearing on 'roof bosses' (carved wooden knobs) on the ceilings in medieval churches in Devon, (particularly Dartmoor). Another occurrence is on the ossuary that by tradition contained the bones of St. Lazarus.

Where it occurs in England, the Three Hares motif usually appears in a prominent place in the church, such as the central rib of the chancel roof, or on a central rib of the nave. This suggests that the symbol held significance to the church, and casts doubt on the theory that they may have been a masons' or carpenters' signature marks. It was widely believed that the hare was hermaphrodite and could reproduce without loss of virginity. This led to an association with the Virgin Mary, with hares sometimes occurring in illuminated manuscripts and Northern European paintings of the Virgin and Christ Child. The other Christian association may have been with the Holy Trinity, representing the "One in Three and Three in One". In many locations the Three Hares are positioned adjacent to the Green Man, a symbol associated with the continuance of Anglo-Saxon paganism. These juxtapositions may have been created to imply the contrast of the Divine with man's sinful, earthly nature.

In Judaism, the "shafan" in Hebrew has symbolic meaning. Although rabbits are listed as a non-kosher animal in the Bible, it can carry very positive symbolic connotations, like lions and eagles. 16th century German scholar Rabbi Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, saw the rabbits as a symbol of the Diaspora.

The hare frequently appears in the form of the symbol of the "rotating rabbits". An ancient German riddle describes this graphic thus: "Three hares sharing three ears, Yet every one of them has two."

Source(s): "This curious graphic riddle can be found in all of the famous Wooden synagogues. from the period of the 17th and 18th century in the Ashknaz region (in Germany). They also appear in the Synagogue from Horb am Neckar. The three animals adorn the wooden panels of the prayer room from Unterlimpurg near Schwäbisch Hall. They also are seen in a main exhibit of the Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv. Israeli art historian Ida Uberman wrote about this house of worship: "... Here we find depictions of three kinds of animals, all organized in circles: eagles, fishes and hares. These three represent the Kabbalistic elements of the world: earth, water and fire/heavens... The fact that they are always three is important, for that number . . . is important in the Kabbalistic context". Not only do they appear among floral and animal ornaments, but they are often in a very distinguished location, directly above the Torah ark, the place where the holy scriptures repose. http://wapedia.mobi/en/Three_hares

It is said in the esoteric knowledge of the Torah---that God dressed Adam and Eve in robes of rabbit fur -- eventually, they were worn by good and bad folks throughout history. However, the robes or garments did not appear again until the blessing of Jacob, and because they smelled of the wonderous fragrances of the Garden of Eden, which Isaac recognized, thus, the fragrance overwhelmed the aging and blind Isaac to see Jacob as his son Esau whom was told to hunt game and prepare him a meal.

In the 1,000 years of the coming peace here on earth, the fragrance of the Garden of Eden would once again be known and all the righteous descendants of Noah--Shem, Japheth and Ham. Thus, 3 rabbits sharing in the world to come without war, hunger, illness, ignorance or pain, etc.

Source(s): Shem became a prophet of God and lived 600 yrs, serving God as a righteous Noahide or God-Fearer as the king (Malkitzedek, the "Just King") of Salem (future city of Jerusalem), whom brought offerings to God as did his ancestors. He established the Academy of Shem and Eber and the words of the Noah Covenant were passed among all those around the globe by the descendants of Abraham and Sarah. Hagar eventually returned to Abraham as Keturah and became a God-Fearer and lived by the Noah laws as found in the Book of Acts too, as well as in the Qur'an, ancient Chinese writings and in documents found in the Dead Sea Scrolls dated from 450 bce to 110 ce.